Knapsack Pro

Sinon.js vs SpecFlow comparison of testing frameworks
What are the differences between Sinon.js and SpecFlow?

Sinon.js

https://sinonjs.org/

SpecFlow

https://specflow.org/
Programming language

JavaScript

.NET

Category

Unit Testing

Acceptance Testing

General info

Standalone test stubs and mocks for JavaScript. Works with any unit testing framework.

Sinon.js is a great library when you want to unit test your code with supports spies, stubs, and mocks. The library has cross browser support and also can run on the server using Node.js.

SpecFlow is a test automation solution for .NET

SpecFlow is a test automation solution for .NET which follows the BDD paradigm, and is part of the Cucumber family. SpecFlow tests are written with Gherkin, using the official Gherkin parser which allows you to write test cases using natural languages and supports over 70 languages.
xUnit
Set of frameworks originating from SUnit (Smalltalk's testing framework). They share similar structure and functionality.

Yes

Compatible

No

Client-side
Allows testing code execution on the client, such as a web browser

Yes

Sinon.js is a good library for unit testing your front-end code and has cross browser support

Yes

Front-end behaviour is tested. With specflow specifications of the expected behaviours are made and specflow tests against this
Server-side
Allows testing the bahovior of a server-side code

Yes

Sinon.js can run on node.js to test back-end components and server-side behaviour

Yes

Back-end behaviour is tested. Specifications of the expected behaviours are made and specflow tests against them
Fixtures
Allows defining a fixed, specific states of data (fixtures) that are test-local. This ensures specific environment for a single test

N/A

Yes

BeforeTestRun and AfterTestRun are executed once for each thread which is a limitation of the current architecture.
Group fixtures
Allows defining a fixed, specific states of data for a group of tests (group-fixtures). This ensures specific environment for a given group of tests.

N/A

Generators
Supports data generators for tests. Data generators generate input data for test. The test is then run for each input data produced in this way.

Yes

SpecFlow contains a generator component. The SpecFlow IDE integration tries to locate the generator component in your project structure, in order to use the generator version matching the SpecFlow runtime in your project
Licence
Licence type governing the use and redistribution of the software

New BSD License; Modified BSD License

BSD license

Mocks
Mocks are objects that simulate the behavior of real objects. Using mocks allows testing some part of the code in isolation (with other parts mocked when needed)

Yes

SinonJS is basically a library that we can use to create object mocks for unit testing

Yes

Specflow intergrates well with mock to give it excellent mocking capabilities
Grouping
Allows organizing tests in groups

Yes

You can create test suites with specflow
Other
Other useful information about the testing framework